Abstract: A method of assembling a staple cartridge is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method comprises attaching a pan to a cartridge body, the cartridge body comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a deck, longitudinal rows of staple cavities extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and a longitudinal slot extending from the proximal end toward the distal end. The method further comprises positioning staples in the staple cavities, positioning a support in the longitudinal slot such that an end of the support extends above the deck, and positioning a sled in the cartridge body proximal to the support such that the sled is longitudinally aligned with the support.

Abstract: A stapling assembly comprising a cartridge body, staple drivers, staples, and a sled assembly is disclosed. The cartridge body comprises a deck, a longitudinal slot, and staple cavities defined in the deck. The sled assembly is configurable in a first configuration and a second configuration. The sled assembly is movable distally in the first configuration during a staple firing stroke. The sled assembly is movable proximally in the second configuration during a retraction stroke. The sled assembly comprises a first component and a second component. The first component comprises a base and at least one rail extending from the base. The rail comprises a distal-facing ramp configured to engage the staple drivers to eject the staples from the staple cavities during the staple firing stroke. The rail is comprised of metal. The second component is movable within the longitudinal slot. The first component is movable relative to the second component.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a first jaw that is configured to support a staple cartridge therein. An axially movable firing member is configured to move between a beginning position and an ending position by a first flexible drive member and a second flexible drive member. A firing member lock is configured to prevent the firing member from distally moving from the beginning position to the ending position unless an axially movable camming member in the staple cartridge that is supported in the first jaw is in a starting position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a first jaw and a second jaw is disclosed. At least one of the first and second jaws comprises a proximal portion and a distal tip rotatable relative to the proximal portion.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a cartridge body, a deck, an elongate slot, a plurality of pockets, and a plurality of engagement protrusions. The plurality of pockets include first and second pockets. The plurality of engagement protrusions extend from the deck and are configured to grip tissue or an adjunct material. The plurality of engagement protrusions include first and second engagement protrusions. The first engagement protrusion is associated with the first pocket. The first engagement protrusion includes a lateral portion extending longitudinally along a lateral side of the first pocket. The first engagement protrusion does not extend along a second lateral side of the first pocket such that the second lateral side opens directly to the deck. The second engagement protrusion is associated with the second pocket. The second engagement protrusion includes a lateral portion extending longitudinally along the second lateral side of the second pocket.

Abstract: A stapling assembly for a surgical instrument includes a body extending along a longitudinal axis and having an upper deck, a plurality of pockets extending through the upper deck for receiving respective staples and arranged in at least two longitudinal rows, a plurality of staple drivers, and a staple driver actuator. The stapling assembly also includes a plurality of pocket extenders extending upwardly from the upper deck. Each pocket extender has a respective top surface. The stapling assembly further includes at least one upwardly-facing surface configured to contact an adhesive of an adjunct for securing the adjunct to the stapling assembly. The at least one upwardly-facing surface is disposed at least partially between at least a portion of the upper deck and the top surfaces of the plurality of pocket extenders, and spans laterally at least partially across at least two longitudinal rows of the plurality of pockets.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a cartridge body, a deck, an elongate slot, a plurality of pockets, and a plurality of engagement protrusions. The plurality of engagement protrusions extend from the deck and are configured to grip tissue or an adjunct material. The plurality of engagement protrusions include a first engagement protrusion associated with the first pocket. The first engagement protrusion includes a first inwardly facing projection and a first planar surface. The first inwardly facing projection extends inwardly between a first longitudinal end and a first lateral side of the first pocket. The first planar surface extends substantially parallel to the deck. The first planar surface is defined by the first inwardly facing projection. The first planar surface defines a maximum height of the engagement protrusion relative to the deck. The first planar surface has a non-uniform area defined at least in part by the first inwardly facing projection.

Abstract: A method of operating a surgical instrument includes clamping tissue with a surgical instrument end effector and actuating the end effector to drive staples into the clamped tissue, including a first longitudinal row having at least one first formed staple with a first formed shape in which the first legs are aligned laterally with each other and with the first crown; a second longitudinal row having at least one second formed staple with a second formed shape in which each second leg is skewed laterally away from the second crown at a first angle; and a third longitudinal row of third formed staples having at least one third formed staple with a third formed shape in which each third leg is skewed laterally away from the third crown at a second angle.

Abstract: A surgical instrument end effector includes a first jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge and a second jaw that includes an anvil having a plurality of staple forming pockets. The first and second jaws are operable to clamp and staple tissue positioned therebetween. A tip member is movably disposed at a distal end of the anvil and is configured to toggle relative to the anvil between a first discrete position and a second discrete position. The tip member in the first discrete position is oriented angularly toward the first jaw, and the tip member in the second discrete position is oriented angularly away from the first discrete position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a first jaw and a second jaw is disclosed. At least one of the first and second jaws comprises a proximal portion and a distal tip rotatable relative to the proximal portion.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil and a stapling head assembly. The anvil defines staple forming pockets. The stapling head assembly includes a body, a coupling member, a firing assembly, and a staple deck. The coupling member is configured to actuate relative to the body to thereby acuate the anvil relative to the body. The firing assembly is configured to drive staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil. The staple deck is defined by an outer arched perimeter and an inner arched perimeter fixed to the body. The staple deck defines staple openings. At least one non-tangential staple opening in the of staple openings extends along a longitudinal axis in a non-tangential relationship with a closest tangent line of the inner arched perimeter or the outer arched perimeter.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a first jaw and a second jaw is disclosed. At least one of the first and second jaws comprises a proximal portion and a distal tip rotatable relative to the proximal portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a modular surgical instrument, comprising a handle assembly comprising a handle assembly control circuit and a modular attachment. The modular attachment comprises a nozzle, and a shaft extending distally from the nozzle, the shaft defining a central longitudinal axis. The modular attachment further comprises an end effector distal to the shaft, the end effector comprising a sensor array. The modular attachment further comprises a modular attachment control circuit communicably coupled to the sensor array, and physically coupled to the shaft. The modular attachment control circuit is configured to rotate with the shaft relative to the handle assembly about the central longitudinal axis. The modular attachment control circuit is configured for wireless communication with the handle assembly control circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a modular surgical instrument that comprises an end effector assembly, a handle assembly, a shaft, and a power wire and a single-wire communication bus. The end effector assembly comprises a first jaw member, a second jaw member, an input sensor array embedded in the first and second jaw members, and an end effector control circuit comprising a voltage-to-frequency conversion circuit. The input sensor array is configured to detect a plurality of tissue parameters, wherein the plurality of tissue parameters correspond to a plurality of voltage signals. The handle assembly comprises a handle assembly control circuit communicably coupled to the end effector control circuit. The handle assembly control circuit comprises a de-multiplexing circuit and a frequency-to-voltage conversion circuit. The shaft comprises a proximal end and a distal end. The end effector control circuit and the handle assembly control circuit communicably coupled to the single-wire communication bus.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a first jaw that is configured to support a staple cartridge therein. An axially movable firing member is configured to move between a beginning position and an ending position by a first flexible drive member and a second flexible drive member. A firing member lock is configured to prevent the firing member from distally moving from the beginning position to the ending position unless an axially movable camming member in the staple cartridge that is supported in the first jaw is in a starting position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument end effector includes a first jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge and a second jaw that includes an anvil having a plurality of staple forming pockets. The first and second jaws are operable to clamp and staple tissue positioned therebetween. A tip member is movably disposed at a distal end of the anvil and is configured to toggle relative to the anvil between a first discrete position and a second discrete position. The tip member in the first discrete position is oriented angularly toward the first jaw, and the tip member in the second discrete position is oriented angularly away from the first discrete position.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil and a stapling head assembly. The anvil defines staple forming pockets. The stapling head assembly includes a body, a coupling member, a firing assembly, and a staple deck. The coupling member is configured to actuate relative to the body to thereby acuate the anvil relative to the body. The firing assembly is configured to drive staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil. The staple deck is defined by an outer arched perimeter and an inner arched perimeter fixed to the body. The staple deck defines staple openings. At least one non-tangential staple opening in the of staple openings extends along a longitudinal axis in a non-tangential relationship with a closest tangent line of the inner arched perimeter or the outer arched perimeter.

Abstract: A tracking system of operating room (OR) personnel and is configured to extrapolate the movement, position, orientation, and context of one or more of the active OR participants to determine the specific operation procedure in progress, the surgical instrument being used by the OR participant, and/or anticipated movement of the OR personnel. The system may further be configured to render a virtual element that includes an anticipated position of a surgical instrument, recommendations, guidance, warning, and surgical location information, as augmented reality (AR) content. The AR content is integrated in real-time with the live-feed of the surgical site, and aids the OR personnel in perioperative surgical procedures.

Abstract: A surgical system is for use in a surgical procedure. The surgical system includes a surgical instrument configured to treat tissue in the surgical procedure; an imaging device; a display configured to show a livestream of a surgical field of the surgical procedure, wherein the livestream is captured by the imaging device; and a control module. The control module is configured to detect a surgical risk; assign a display priority to the surgical risk; and determine a display arrangement of the surgical risk based on the display priority, wherein the display arrangement comprises overlaying an alert feature on the livestream.

Abstract: A surgical instrument end effector includes a first jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge and a second jaw that includes an anvil having a plurality of staple forming pockets. The first and second jaws are operable to clamp and staple tissue positioned therebetween. A tip member is movably disposed at a distal end of the anvil and is configured to toggle relative to the anvil between a first discrete position and a second discrete position. The tip member in the first discrete position is oriented angularly toward the first jaw, and the tip member in the second discrete position is oriented angularly away from the first discrete position.